Boris Johnson told NHS medics ‘I owe you my life’ and gave them ovation from hospital bed after leaving intensive care
GRATEFUL Boris Johnson has spoken for the first time of his virus ordeal telling medics: “I owe you my life.”
The PM showed appreciation by clapping his medics just two hours after being wheeled out of intensive care and back to a normal ward at St Thomas’ Hospital.
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Several patients joined in, turning a gentle ripple to a rousing round of applause that echoed throughout the general ward.
Boris told friends the care he had received had been “exemplary” and added: “I can’t thank them enough. I owe them my life.”
Mr Johnson, 55, was described as “exhausted but euphoric” as he was declared well enough to leave the intensive care unit on Thursday evening.
He waved at doctors and nurses on the way out and effusively thanked any member of staff who came within eyeshot.
It came as another 917 deaths were recorded yesterday, including a child of 11 and a 102-year-old, taking the UK’s coronavirus death toll to 9,875.
Thirty-three had no underlying conditions. The number of cases has reached 78,991.
'SIGNS OF STABILISATION'
But there was hope as worst-hit regions London and the Midlands posted lower death figures than previous days.
Prof Stephen Powis, medical director of NHS England, said hospital admission numbers were showing “early signs of stabilisation”.
The public largely heeded pleas to avoid heading to beaches and parks in the heat.
The Queen sent a new uplifting message insisting “Easter is not cancelled” and “coronavirus will not overcome us”.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock paid tribute to the 28 NHS workers who have lost their lives.
But he came under fire from medics who felt he suggested that some may be using more personal protective equipment (PPE) than needed.
Home Secretary Priti Patel told yesterday’s daily press conference she was “sorry” if people felt there have been failings over PPE.
She also launched a campaign to help domestic abuse victims during lockdown — revealing a 120 per cent rise in calls to the national helpline.
Ms Patel announced £2million funding to boost the online reporting system.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said 37 forces have issued 1,084 fines in the lockdown, less than 84 a day.
'VERY GOOD PROGRESS'
Yesterday, Downing Street said the PM was making “very good progress” as he prepared to spend his seventh night at St Thomas’ Hospital in central London.
But it is clear his brush with death has had a profound effect on him — and will influence his government’s efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.
A close pal said: “There is no doubt that this has been a sobering and life-changing experience for the Prime Minister. Indeed it has been for us all.
“It’s only when the unthinkable creeps up on you from nowhere like this does it sink in how fragile and precious life is.
“We have all learned — and thought — a lot from the events of the past few days. It will be something none of us forgets.”
Pregnant fiancée Carrie Symonds has been keeping up the PM’s spirits by sending him pictures of “Get well” messages from NHS staff.
Former Tory communications chief Carrie, 32, printed out news images of doctors and nurses — including one from George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton, Warks, which showed medics spelling out “Get well soon Boris”.
Carrie, who spent a week in bed with Covid-19 symptoms, sent the snaps because Boris was unable to follow the news after having his phone taken from him.
She received twice-daily updates about Boris’s condition — enduring an agonising wait for each bulletin.
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Yesterday the mood among MPs and officials was one of relief after days in which ministers admitted to being stricken with fear. It concluded one of the most dramatic and terrifying weeks since the outbreak started.
Senior ministers voiced fears that Mr Johnson had been working so hard while self-isolating in Downing Street with “mild symptoms” of the virus.
He was still working 18-hour days from his sickbed. As his condition worsened, his workload was slashed.
Only two people were allowed to make contact — his Principal Private Secretary Martin Reynolds and trusted Director of Communications Lee Cain.
Alarm bells rang when Boris chaired a call last Saturday morning. Advisers ordered his diary to be cleared.
But it was too late to halt the PM’s decline and on Sunday his doctor advised him to go to hospital.
The Queen was addressing the nation on TV at 8pm as he slipped into St Thomas’ on the opposite side of the Thames from the Commons.
His two protection officers accompanied him. Within 24 hours his condition worsened and he was moved to the intensive care unit.
It came as a shock when the news was delivered to a handful of senior officials manning No 10.
One said: “Up until then we had been consistently optimistic he would shake this off, even when he was taken into hospital.
'IT WAS TERRYFYING'
“But it was terrifying how fast things happened. I couldn’t believe it.”
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, the de facto deputy, was briefed and Mr Reynolds rang Buckingham Palace to ensure the Queen was given the news.
The Cabinet were informed in a hastily assembled conference call and preparations made for a public announcement.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove summed up the sombre mood, saying: “I think I speak for everyone when I say our thoughts and prayers are with the Prime Minister.”
Aides would wait for regular updates from the hospital on how the PM was doing, amid signs of gradual improvement.
A senior official said: “Every day we were hoping for a bit of good news from the hospital.
“While everyone is hoping for the best, you can’t get the fear out of your head that he could take a turn for the worse.”
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An official said: “It could have been a difficult period but everybody pulled together — officials and the political team — and made sure we steadied the ship.
“Dom Raab kept everyone completely focused on the task at hand and making sure we did not take our foot off the gas in our response to coronavirus.
“We all knew the Prime Minister would want us all to concentrate 100 per cent on the job — that is the best thing we could do for him while he was in intensive care, and that is what we did.”
No 10 officials held their breath for three days and nights until Thursday evening when the news arrived that Mr Johnson had left intensive care.
A senior aide said: “It was such a massive lift. You could feel the whole building breathe a collective sigh of relief.”
It is unclear when Mr Johnson will next be able to see fiancée Carrie.
The couple have been apart for several weeks — but he may be forced to continue to isolate after leaving hospital.
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And last night Home Secretary Priti Patel admitted it was difficult to predict when the PM will be well enough to return to work.
She said: “We must give him the time and space to rest and recuperate. It is absolutely vital that our Prime Minister gets well.
“That’s the priority we are focused on now.”
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